Tungsten

0213EiC_Element_pg012_180

Source: © MURRAY ROBERTSTON/VISUAL ELEMENTS

John Emsley looks at the heavy metal that makes light work of tough jobs

Objects designed to impact on things, such as the tips of ballpoint pens, darts and even the noses of Polaris submarine nuclear rockets, are made of tungsten alloys.

Mystery mineral 

There are several tungsten minerals, such as ferberite (FeWO4), scheelite (CaWO4) and wolframite ([Fe,Mn]WO4). World production of tungsten is around 74 000 tonnes per annum, with China producing almost 90%. The metal is also recycled, and this meets 30% of demand. 

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor. 

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

  • unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
  • teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
  • applications for funding to support your lessons

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.